The Greatest of the Guess WhoTrack Record: The Guess Who CollectionAt Their BestThe Ultimate CollectionA RetrospectiveGreatest Hits [RCA]Together Again [Video]Live at the ParamountThe Best of the Guess Who, Vol. 2Running Back Thru CanadaThe Best of the Guess Who [Paradiso]Greatest Hits [Audiophile Legends]The Platinum & Gold CollectionAnthologyExtended Versions

General CommentHe was a truck stop whore. He "offered himself to the world" and was a "diesel fixer". In other words, he bent over and serviced the diesel drivers. He and his buddy, the workshop owner, took shifts there. Albert Flasher is the code name they gave to clients. The cops knew about the term "John", so they went with something more cryptic - a John was an Albert Flasher.

General CommentThis is about a mechanic and his wife who are working in an oil pit and the truck falls on them. In the seconds before dying, the devil (Albert Flasher) appears to him and offers to give him his life back in exchange for his soul.

The next scene, the mechanic is back in high school. He knows the future (And Michael was a moonbeam maker) and can change things for himself but he knows the devil owns his soul.

General CommentI found this article, an interview with Randy Bachman. According to Bachman, Burton Cummings got the idea for the song from the following:

"He had a party one night that went all night long and he didn't get any sleep. He went to a radio station the next morning for an interview and was a little bit [out of] form before going on. He could hardly see straight. They said to him, 'When the flashing light comes on, that means you're on the air.' The thing flashed 'Alert Flasher,' and he thought it was 'Albert Flasher' and he said 'What is this thing that says 'Albert Flasher?' over the air!"

General CommentGarry Peterson said that Burton saw a sign that said Albert Flyer, which inspired him to compose the song. Do you know a man exists named Albert Flasher and he came to meet the band one night?